Your teeth do more than help you chew food. They also dictate your speech, appearance, and overall health. Should your teeth become infected or traumatized, you will likely be in debilitating pain. You might even be unable to go about your daily activities. The endodontic consultants of San Antonio can diagnose your problem and recommend a suitable course of action.

Who Is an Endodontist?

Your teeth are made up of dentin, which is the hard white substance that people see when you smile. Beneath the dentin is the dental pulp. It contains nerves and blood vessels that are responsible for sensation. When tooth decay penetrates the dentin and gets to the pulp, you can develop an infection. Endodontics focuses on the care, diagnosis, and treatment of infected or traumatized teeth.

Traumatized teeth are teeth that are cracked or broken. An endodontist will usually treat your dental pulp and seal the tooth against future infection.

When Should You See an Endodontist?

You should have regular checkups with your endodontist. This is to ensure your teeth are always healthy and strong. However, some situations require immediate attention from your endodontist. They include when you have:

Traumatic Dental Injury

You suffer a traumatic dental injury when your teeth are exposed to trauma and crack, chip, or break. This can also include total tooth loss. Usually, such injuries happen during exercise, sports, or accidents. They can damage your pulp and root and cause intense pain.

An endodontist will assess the level or traumatic injury. They will then recommend tooth treatment, removal, or replacement.

Intense Pain

If you are overdue for a root canal, you will likely be in intense pain. Unlike tooth sensitivity, this throbbing pain lingers and might get worse at night. It can also be triggered by touch or extremely hot or cold drinks.  This is because the damage is in the nerves, which are responsible for sensation.

When you visit your endodontist, they will clean the infected nerve and prevent further infection. This course of action should provide much-needed relief.

Swelling

Facial swelling can be attributed to an abscessed tooth. Usually, the affected area exhibits pain and sensitivity to touch. This condition is severe and should be addressed as soon as possible. Quick action could save you from losing a tooth.

Deep Decay

Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in your mouth produce acids that eat away at your enamel. A shallow decay can be treated easily by a general dentist. However, deep cavities require the attention of an endodontist. This is because the damage usually extends to the roots and nerves.

Drainage

When a tooth is infected, it could create a localized area of infection. This might present as a pimple on the gums, which could burst and drain into your mouth. The result is bad taste and odor. An endodontist can close the drainage tract.

Takeaway

When a tooth is traumatized, a lot of things take the back seat. You might have to give up your favorite foods and drinks. You could also be in too much pain to go to work or school. This is why it is important to maintain a good relationship with your endodontist.

If you need a root canal or are experiencing any of the signs discussed here, contact Rick Davis, DDS, Rick Schwartz, DDS, and their team of endodontists to set up a consultation.